Yours, most affectionately, E. Hamilton.

From Emmeline Hamilton to Mary Greville.

A month, actually a whole month has elapsed, dearest Mary, since I wrote to you last, and not a line from you.  Granting it was nearly a week on the way, three weeks are surely long enough for you to have written an answer, when I entreated you to write so soon.  What can be the cause of this silence?  I will not upbraid you, because I tremble when I think what may perhaps have occasioned it.  Mamma has become almost as anxious as myself, therefore, as soon as you can, pray write, if it be but one line to say you are well and at peace, I do not, will not ask more.  I scarcely like to write on indifferent subjects in this letter, but yet as you have given me nothing to answer, I must do so to fill up my paper; for if what I dread be not the case, you will not thank me for an epistle containing but a dozen lines.  London is becoming rather more agreeable, and the fogs have given place to fine weather.  The Court arrived from Brighton yesterday, and they say the town will now rapidly fill.  Caroline is all joy, because early next month Mr. Grahame’s family leave Brighton.  They have a fine house in Piccadilly not very far from us, and Caroline is anticipating great pleasure in the society of Annie.  I wonder what my sister can find to like so much in Miss Grahame; to me this friendship has been and is quite incomprehensible.  She does not possess one quality that would attract me; what a fortunate thing it is we do not all like the same sort of people.  Congratulate me, my dear friend, I am overcoming in a degree my dislike to the company of strangers.  Some of papa and mamma’s select friends and their families have been calling on us the last month, and we have lately had rather more society in the evening; not anything like large parties, but nice little conversaziones, and really the lords and ladies who compose them are much more agreeable than my fancy pictured them.  They are so intelligent, and know so much of the world, and the anecdotes they relate are so amusing, and some so full of good-natured wit, that in one evening I become more advanced in my favourite study, that of character, than I do in weeks spent in retirement.  Caroline is very much admired, and I sometimes look at her with surprise; for she certainly looks much better, and makes herself more agreeable among strangers than she always does at home.  Mamma would call that perhaps an unkind reflection, but I do not mean it for such; some people are more fascinating out than at home.  I am contented to remain in the shade, and only speak when I am spoken to, like a good little girl; that is to say, I converse with those who are good-natured enough to converse with me, and many agreeable evenings have I passed in that way.  There is her Grace the Duchess D——­, a very delightful woman, with elegant manners, and full of true kindness.  I like the way she speaks